Electric switch



L. H. PHILLIPS ELECTRIC SWITCH Jam.y 11 1927. 1,613,902

Filed May 9, 1925 IW! 115i 7" f e HEE.,

Zin/vu 1 foi i5 L11-P s Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES LEWIS HALL PHILLIPS, OF ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed May 9,

The present invention relates to electric switches, and has particular' reference to multiple switches.

An object of this invention is to provide a device of this character' whereby a plurality ot' circuits may be controlled or operated through a central circuit selector.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device through which the accidental closing of an undesired circuit can not be accomplished. v

A further object f this invention is to provide a switch having a central turn-plate which may be revolved upon its axis to a pre determined point to close a particular circuit.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described in, and in part be understoodfrom, the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment of the invention, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a detail top plan View of a device constructed according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken .substantially through the center of the switch and showing the interior construction of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail enlarged view of one side of the double throw switch at its pivoted end.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken substantially throughthe center of one ofthe movable terminals.

F ig. 5 is a detail top plan view ofthe same, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail top plan View of the central portion of the base and .showing in detail. the collector rings through which current from the selected circuit is adapted to pass. n

`Referring to the drawing,` 10 designates a base which may be constructed of any suitable insulating material, andupon the cenytral port-ion of which is .mounted an insulating ring 11. The ring 11 has a plurality of notches 12 for purposes which will hereinafter be more fully described.

The base10 has a central opening 13 extending downwardly in substantially the same plane as the inner side of the ring 11. The opening 13 is adapted to receive a turn@ plate 14 the. axis of which is mount-ed upon a ball bearing or the like pivot 15. The 'piv- 1925. Serial No. 29%121.

ot 15 is comprised of an upstanding pivot which is mounted upon a ball race 16 or the like at its lower end, and is secured at its upper end to the turnplate 14 by a nut 17 or the'like. A complementary ball race 1S is mounted in the base l0 in substantially the center of the opening 13, and a pivot bolt 19 or the like extends upwardly through the races 18 and 16. The opposite ends-of the bolt 19 are preferably secured by nuts 2O so that the turnplate 14 will turn easily upon the balls 21 which are mounted between the complementary ball races 16 and 18.

A double throw knife switchhaving connecting bars or rods 22 and 23 which are held at their outer ends in spaced relation to each other by an insulatingbar 24 upon which is mounted a handle 25 or the like,

is pivotally mounted upon the turnplate 14,

being secured theretoiby a pair of straps 26 or the like. A pair of otfset terminals 27 and 2S are attached to the lower side of the turnplate 14 by a bolt 29 orthe like which secured at its upperside to the strap 26, thusatfording a direct connection between the terminals 27 and 28 and the connecting bars 22 and 23.

The terminals 27 land 2S are identical in construction, comprising a casing 30 which extends downwardly from abase or body 31. The casing 30 has a rdownwardly extending opening 32 in which is mounteda helical ex panding spring 33 orthe like. The upper .end of the spring 33 engagesthe 'upper end of the opcning'32, and at its lower endengages a contactfpin 34 or the like, the pin 34 extending downwardly through the Opern ing 32. A cap 35 is threaded upon the outer side of the lower end of the casing 30,

and maintains the pin 34 in axial relation to the. opening 32.

The lower ends of the contact pins 34 yieldably engage the upper surfaces of an inner collector or contact ringv36 `,and an outer collector ring 37. The inner ring 36 is connected by a wire or the like38 .to a terminal 39 which is mounted upon the base 10. AThe outer ring 37 is'likewise connected by wire 40 to a terminal 41 which is secured to the base 41 at opposite sides to the terminal 39.

In each of the openings 12 there is a springr contact member 42 which is secured to the base 10, and each contact member 42 is connected to a terminal 43 by a wire 44 or the like. Each pair yof contacts 42 constitutes a separate circuit which may be selected by simply swinging` the turnplate lll. and the lrnit'e switch into the desired position,

ln order to prevent the accidental closing ot an undesired circuitg the Contact bars 22 and Q3 are notched at their pivoted end as illustrated by in Fig. 3. it stop pin is secured to the pivots 2G so that when the hars 522 and 23 are swung` upwardly and lOutwardly the notched portion ll5 comes into contact with the stop pin elli. rlhe switch is then in open or oli' position.

The linite switch is normally in open or oii position and in order to operate the desired circuit the turnplate l-l and the switch is turned upon the axis or pivot 'lo until the contact arms and 23 are substantially abore the desired pair oit contact memlicrs -l-Q. The contact bars Q2 and 28 are then pres-ed downwardly until they are yieldablyv held between the selected pair ot contacts 4Q. The desired circuit is tl'ien closed.

lt is, ot course understood that various changes and modilieat-ions may be made in the details of construction and design ot the above specifically described embodiment ot the invention without departing` :trom the spirit thereof, such changes and moditications beine' restricted only by the scope ot the following claims.

lllhat is claimed is:

l. A multiple electric switch comprising` a base, a ring` mounted upon the base and having' a series of paired openings therethrough` a double armed knife switch mounted upon said base, means tor turning said switch upon said base, said turning means being mounted in spaced relation to the base, a plurality of contacts mounted within said paired openingsl` means tor connecting' each pair of said contacts to a selected circuit, yieldable wiping contacts secured to said turning means and depending Ytrom said double armed lrnite switch, an inner and an outer circular terminal mounted upon said base and beneath said switch, and means `lor connecting said circular terminals to a source of electric energy.

2. A multiple electric switch comprising a base. a ring mounted upon the base and haring' a .series ot paired openings therethrough, a pair oit contact arms. a turnplate pivotally mounted upon said base and within the ring, said turnplate being; mounted in spaced relation to the base, means tor mounting` said contact arms upon Said turnplate. a plurality of spring contacts secured to said base and within said paired openings, means -tor connectingl said spring contacts with selected circuits, a pair of depending' yieldable wiping' Contact arms secured to said turnplate and said pair ot Contact arms, al pair ot ring' terminals secured to said base, said ring' terminals being adapted to be wiped by said wiping contacts, and means for connecting;` said ring` 'terminals to a source oit' electric energy.

Si. It multiple electric switch comprising; a base, a ringI mounted upon the base and having; ay series oit paired openings therethrough, a tui'nplate pirotally mounted upon said base and in spaced relation thereto, a pair oit contact arms mounted upon said turnplate, a plurality oif spring terminals mounted upon said base and within said paired openings.I means tor connecting said spring; terminals to selected circuits :i pair ot yieldable wipingl contact arm ecured to said turnplatc and said pair ot contact arms? an inner and an outer ring; terminal positioned upon said hase and being` adapted to he engaged by said alpini; contact arms, and means tor connecting said rinp; terminals to a :tource ot electric ener-fry.

el. fr multiple electric switch conipriuiiml a base7 ay ring mounted upon the base, said ring having' a plurality ot paired openiiics therethrough, a double armed knife switch pivotally mounted upon said base and within the ring7 a pair ot ring terminals mounted upon the base and beneath said switch, yieldable wiping` contacts depending` trom said switch and adapted to wipe said ring terminals for energizing said switch arms.. means tor connecting said ring terminals to a. source ot electric energy, a plurality oit springA contacts mounted upon the bas and within said paired openings, and stop means tor controlling,- the outward inovementof the switch arms.

5. A multiple electric 'switch comprising a base7 a ring upon the base, said ring having a plurality of paired openings7 therethrough, a pivot mounted upon the base and within said ring', a turnplate on said pivot and adapted for tree turning' inoveinent within said ring7 a double armed knife switch mounted upon said turnplate7 an inner and an outer ring` terminal secured to said base, means for connecting)- said terminals to :i source of electric encrgfjn a pair oi yieldaiile terminals secured to said switch arms and depending from the lower sine ot said turnplate, said yieldablc terminals at their lower ends wiping said inner and outer ring terminals tor energizing said switch arms` :i plurality of spring contacts secured to said base and within said openings in said ring;l` and means iter connecting said spring contacts to selected circuits.

G. A multiple electric switch comprisirnjY a base, a ring upon the base, said ring having paired openings therethrough, a turnplate pivotally secured to said base and within said ring and adapted to swingr upon its pivot in spaced relation to the base. av plurality of switch arms mounted upon said turnplate and adapted to turn therewith, a plurality of yieldable terminals dependingr lll] from said turnplate and connected to said 'switch arms, said yieldable contacts comprising a base, a casing depending from the base, said casing being threaded at its lower end, a spring in the casing, a pin engaging the lower end of said spring, and a cap for holding the pin in position, a plurality of ring terminals mounted upon said base and beneath said turnplate, said yieldable terminals being adapted to Wipe said ring terminals, means for connecting said ring terminals to a source of electric energy, and a plurality of spring contacts mounted upon said base Within said openings in said ring.

7. A multiple electric switch comprising a base, said base having a circular recess therein, a ring mounted upon the hase and about said recess, said ring having a series of paired openings therethrough, a pivot mounted upon said base and Within said recess, a turnplate on said pivot and adapted for free turning movement Within said recess and in spaced relation to the hase, a double armed knife switch mounted upon said turnplate, an inner and an outer ring terminal secured to said base Within said recess, means for connecting said terminals to a source of electric energy, a pair of yieldalole terminals secured to said switch arms and depending from said turnplate, said yieldahle terminals at their lower ends wiping said inner and outer ring terminals for energizing said switch arms, a plurality of spring contacts secured to said base and Within said openings in said ring, and means for connecting said spring contacts to selected circuits.

LEWIS HALL PHILLIPS. 

